Blender learning

Blended learning is a core part ASW driven by changes already happening at the higher
education levels and the need to prepare students for the 21st century workplace, blended
learning provides the ASW with a variety of ways to address student needs, differentiate
instruction, and provide teachers with data for instructional decision-making.

The world views blended learning as the combination of digital content and activity with
face-to-face content and activity. It looks very different in each class. When a teacher has an
activity that works well face-to-face, there isn't any reason to look for a digital replacement.
If they can find something digital that is more effective or efficient, then that is implemented.

One of the key components of blended learning is to identify what is already working well
in your classroom, and what might be better suited as digital content. Teachers need to know
that by adding digital content, it doesnt mean throwing out all the direct instruction in the
classroom. Keep what is working well in a face-to-face mode, and add what could be more
effective in a digital format.

Blended learning is a term increasingly used to describe the way e-learning is being
combined with traditional classroom methods and independent study to create a new, hybrid
teaching methodology. It represents a much greater change in basic technique than simply
adding computers to classrooms; it represents, in many cases, a fundamental change in the
way teachers and students approach the learning experience. It has already produced an
offshoot the flipped classroom that has quickly become a distinct approach of its own.
No single, reliable definition of blended learning exists, or even a universal agreement on the
term itself. Many use terms like hybrid, mixed, or integrative to describe the same trend.
But the trend is significant. In 2000 an estimated 45,000 K-12 students took an online course,
but almost a decade later more than 3 million took courses that way, many of them using
computers in the schools themselves.

A course created in a blended learning model uses the classroom time for activities that
benefit the most from direct interaction. Traditional education (especially at the college level)
tends to place an emphasis on delivering material by way of a lecture, while in a blended
learning model lectures can be videotaped ahead of time so the student can watch on their
own time. The classroom time is more likely to be for structured exercises that emphasize
the application of the curriculum to solve problems or work through tasks.

An individual semester of blended learning may emphasize classroom time at the beginning,
then gradually increase the amount of work that students do online or during independent
study. Many argue that class discussion boards, for example, are far more useful if the
participants have met face-to-face first.
 The flipped classroom, a more recent coinage, refers to classes that are structured almost
exclusively around a reversal of expectations for lectures and homework. Students are
expected to watch lectures online at home, and do homework while they are in class

A learning model in three parts

There is a general consensus among education innovators that blended learning has three
primary components:

In-person classroom activities facilitated by a trained educator.

Online learning materials, often including pre-recorded lectures given by that same
instructor.
Structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills developed
during the classroom experience.
Blended learning redefining teaching roles

In some situations, the move to blended learning has inspired educators to redefine traditional
roles. The word facilitator has emerged as an alternative to teacher, bringing with it a
slightly different focus. The facilitator places an emphasis on empowering students with the
skills and knowledge required to make the most of the online material and independent study
time, guiding students toward the most meaningful experience possible. Facilitators focus on
four key areas:

Development of online and offline course content.

Facilitation of communication with and among students, including the pedagogy of
communicating content online without the contextual clues students would get in person.
Guiding the learning experience of individual students, and customizing material wherever
possible to strengthen the learning experience.
Assessment and grading, not unlike the expectations for teachers within the traditional
framework.
By putting an emphasis on learning through supervised activities, blended learning has
proven to be very adaptable to what some corporations are calling blended training. Trainers
can shift their focus from the delivery of knowledge to its application, and companies spend
less flying trainers around to oversee all instruction in person.
How To Plan For An Effective Blended Learning

Planning for an effective blended learning program requires a good deal of preparation. Let
us see a few tips in which we can achieve this objective.

1. Emphasize on identifying clear learning objectives.

Like any other training program, it is very important in blended learning to identify the
right course goals and objectives before you start creating the content. The objectives
serve the purpose of a roadmap and help you in understanding where the learning is
headed and what topics you need to cover to successfully achieve the course objectives.
2. Prepare a comprehensive course outline to guide the learners.
Having a proper outline and syllabus for your blended learning program will provide
multiple benefits for your learners. The learners can make use of the outline to keep a
track of their learning. Ask yourself all the probable questions what skills you expect
your learners to develop by the end of the program, what information should be
included in the course, etc. On the other hand, the developer or the facilitator of the
program can ensure that the course is progressing on the right track and at the desired
stride.
3. Determine the level of interactivities for greater engagement.
The best part about developing a blended learning program is that you have complete
control over determining how engaging you want your course to be. This would again
depend on two factors the first is how much of the learning would take place online
and how much of it would be self-paced activities. While opting for a blended learning
strategy, you could choose from a variety of tools and delivery methods to impart
instructions to your learners. These tools also come with a host of interactive elements
that make learning all the more fun and engaging.
4. Plan your group activities to enhance the learning curve.
Collaborating with the group is absolutely necessary when planning for an effective
blended learning program. When the learners exchange their ideas, experiences, skills,
and perspectives, it creates an enhanced knowledge sharing environment which benefits
one and all in the study group. For instance, you could ask the group to log into an
online chat forum to discuss a particular topic or question. They will get an opportunity
to share their views through a social media platform which will further enhance their
motivation and learning curve.
5. Determine how learners should communicate with facilitators.
While developing a blended learning program, you must make sure that the learners are
aware of how they should communicate with their facilitator regarding any question or
concern they may have related to the topic. This will make them feel they have a strong
support system to rely at times of need. At the same time, you must also determine
ways in which you could gather feedback from the program participants.
6. Put down a list of links and resources for future reference.
Since a part of your blended learning program is conducted online, it is good to offer
your learners a list of valuable resources that they can refer post the session. For
 instance, you can point them to links and other web resources which they can refer in
order to delve deeper into the topic.
7. Determine which assessment strategy works best to track progress.
Like every learning program, a blended learning program too is incomplete without a
proper assessment strategy in place. As a developer, you need to determine how you
would test the knowledge of the participants at the end of each module, whether it
should be through a quiz, or a summary that they need to complete, or even engaging
themselves in a lively discussion through different web forums. Assessments strategies
help the participants to mark their improvement areas and use the knowledge and skills
gained from the program in their daily job roles.
It is true that planning an effective blended learning is slightly complex, but if you have
great organization skills and can let your creative juices flow, then your blended learning
program is sure to be a great success.

Image used under Creative Commons by Flickr user Sarah M Stewart.

Excerpt taken from https://www.mindflash.com/elearning/what-is-blended-learning/